Shipping estimates for Apple's new 27-inch iMac models have been updated today to "January", marking the first time availability of the machines has been pushed back into 2013. Orders had previously been estimated at 3-4 weeks for shipping.

The new "January" estimate may or may not represent a lengthening of lead times given that the previous 3-4 week window was already pushing into January, but at the very least it seems that Apple is introducing some uncertainty into future availability by simply stating a one-month window for new orders rather than measuring estimates in weeks.

Supplies of the new iMac have been tight since the machine's launch one week ago, and were already expected to be constrained into 2013. The bottleneck for Apple is said to be the new production process on the machine's display, which is laminated directly to the cover glass. The process is more troublesome for larger screens, making supplies of the 27-inch iMac more scarce than those for its 21.5-inch sibling.

I tried to order mine on Friday, and realized my credit card had expired! I don't use it much. Waiting on my new one and will order asap, but it sucks that I missed my window that would have been likely delivery before 2013.

Agreed! Went out to local Best Buy and it is a splendid piece of design. Good job Sir Jonathan. I was surprised that it didn't feel hot anywhere after my toying with it for a spell and the fact the display model is always on, running that promo on its screen!

I wouldn't worry about missed holiday. The demand for these suckers is built in due to the fact that they are over 550 days from a true refresh model. I can't wait for the 27" model to arrive at my doorstep!

Oh ****. Missing the holiday season with these shenanigans... Should have sold the old model until they had some real inventory built and lines running for the new models.

The 27 is more of a prosumer model so the holiday isn't as much of a concern. And this says nothing about when they will arrive in stores. This is only for the limited quantity online channel

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Originally Posted by Cisco_Kid

Assembled in the USA is already showing its ugly head, delay launch is step one, over budget will be next followed by quality control problems.

What launch delay? This has nothing to do with the launch in stores. Which we did not get a set date for. They could arrive Dec 31 and the 'in December' is still not a delay since that is when they said the units would START shipping, not when they promised everyone that wants one will get it.

Assembled in the USA is already showing its ugly head, delay launch is step one, over budget will be next followed by quality control problems.

The article says Asian companies are having a hard time making those groovy thin screens.

Could they be made faster in the US? In BC? Well, not in BC obviously...

It is extremely unlikely that iMacs are actually made in the US! Maybe some options are attached at a distribution center. It is possible that components for Mac Pros could be stuffed into the case someplace. What would that take, an hour? And it could be done in any building or my garage for that matter...